Charges dropped against father in child's death

The mother, however, still faces charges of first-degree murder and aggravated child abuse in Dyer County Circuit Court. Amanda Kay Walters, 29, of Jackson, is expected to go on trial April 7.

Charges against Ronald Keith Walters, 44, of Jackson, were not prosecuted on Dec. 8.

The Walters family lived in Dyersburg in 2005 when their son, Konnor Walters was taken to the Dyersburg Regional Medical Center emergency room. He had suffered a blunt force trauma to the head. The boy died at LeBonheur Children's Medical Center in Memphis.

In previous court hearings, family friends testified that Konnor Walters had a "special problem." Konnor hit his head whenever things didn't go his way, the friend said.

The Walters case was one of several considered in circuit court on Dec. 7-8. Others include:

* Daniel Shawn Clark, 34, 1621 Harris St., who pleaded guilty to especially aggravated robbery. He was accused of entering a man's home, striking him on the head with a brick and stealing his money, jewelry, bank card and checkbook. The victim was taken to The Regional Medical Center in Memphis for treatment.

Clark was sentenced to 15 years in prison and classified as a "violent offender" who must serve his entire sentence.

* Mark A. Curry, address unavailable, who was declared a habitual motor vehicle offender. He had been charged with his ninth offense of driving with a revoked license and evading arrest in a motor vehicle.

* Brian L. Fisk, 25, address unavailable, who pleaded guilty to selling a Schedule III controlled substance, selling more than half an ounce of marijuana and selling a counterfeit controlled substance. He was placed on judicial diversion for two years and was ordered to pay $190 restitution to the Newbern Police Department.

* Charles Timothy Goforth, 32, 449 Jeff Webb Road in Ripley, who pleaded guilty to violating the motor vehicle habitual offender act. He was sentenced to six years in prison as a persistent offender, which means he must serve at least 45 percent of his sentence before being considered for parole.

* Marshall Harris, 40, 308 N. Monroe in Newbern, who pleaded guilty to selling a counterfeit controlled substance. He was sentenced to a year in prison.

* Angela Holder, 36, 807 Central, and Charlene Clinton, 35, 201 Liberty Ave., who were found guilty of burglarizing T-Styles on Dec. 17, 2008.

Holder was sentenced to two years in prison.

Clinton was sentenced to 90 days in jail, followed by two years and nine months in a community corrections program.

* Larry D. Holland Jr., whose address is listed both as 1430 Shelby Drive and as 301 Butterworth, who was not prosecuted on charges of burglary of a motor vehicle and theft of property in excess of $1,000.

* Kenny J. Johnson, 27, 2876 Highway 88, who pleaded guilty to possessing more than half a gram of cocaine. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison and will serve that time concurrently with a sentence from Lauderdale County Circuit Court. He also was fined $3,000.

* Donnie Wayne Lee, 33, 213 Poplar St. in Finley, who pleaded guilty to two counts of robbery. He was accused of taking $140 from an employee of The Learning House and $400 from Q-Mart, both on Sept. 29. Additional charges of burglary, theft of property in excess of $1,000 and failure to appear were dismissed. Lee was sentenced to 10 years on each count and will serve those sentences concurrently with each other and consecutively with all prior sentences and parole revocations.

* Brian Allen Loyd, 34, 513 Lake Road, who pleaded guilty to burglary, theft of property in excess of $1,000 and forgery. Three additional charges of forgery and one count of simple possession of cocaine were dismissed.

On the burglary and theft charges, Loyd was accused of breaking into West Dyersburg Church of Christ on Highway 51 Bypass and stealing two televisions and a video cassette recorder on Aug. 25. He was sentenced to three years in prison for each charge and will serve those sentences concurrently with each other. He also was ordered to pay $1,600 restitution to the church.

On the forgery charge, he was accused of forging checks on the account of his employer, Curtis Construction Co. of Dyersburg. He was sentenced to two years in prison and will serve that sentence consecutively to the two sentences above. He also was ordered to pay $2,136.67 restitution to his employer.